My name is Benjamin Ladrillono, and I am a senior at The University of Alabama. I am studying public relations with a minor in business. I’m honored to have received The LAGRANT Foundation's (TLF) scholarship twice, and I have gained so much knowledge from my peers and mentors that I met through TLF.

During this past summer, I interned with a marketing firm the Intermark Group in Birmingham, Ala. In the spring of 2013, I was the Creative Director of The University of Alabama’s Bateman Competition Team, which we received honorable mention by PRSSA for our efforts to fight bullying.

I have bold career goals. Although it seems as if my goals are dream-like, I know I can achieve them. After all, goals are nothing more than dreams. I want to work at a major public relations firm and work my way up. From this gained experience, I intend to open up my own marketing firm or become a Director of Public Relations or marketing for a Fortune 500 company or a rising business. From there, I want to begin reaching out to students in need of scholarships. I would like to start my own scholarship program, very similar to TLF's.

Because of my experience with TLF, these goals formulated. The more I learn from the mentors I gained through the Foundation, the more I know that these dreams are possible.

Thank you Kim Hunter and The LAGRANT Foundation for all that you have done for me.

Benjamin Ladrillono is a 2012 and 2013 scholarship recipient pursuing his Bachelor of Arts in Communications with an emphasis in Public Relations at the University of Alabama.